Injection device



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Sept. 29, 1953 J. H. sMooT 2,653,502

INJECTION DEVICE Filed June 17, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l "lll/110mm j Sept, 29, 1953 J. H. sMooT INJECTION DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17, 1950 Patented Sept. 29, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT CFFICE INJECTION DEVICEY Application June 17, 1950, Serial No. 168,797

(Cl. 12S-173) 9 Claims.

IThis` invention relates to a structurally and functionally improved. injection device of the hypodermic type and especially an. apparatus by means of which medicament may be injected below the epidermis without the necessity of employing a skin-penetrating needle.

Ity has hereto-fore been proposed to'provide various types of hypodermic injection` devices operating under the velocity injection principle whereby a sufficiently line stream of medicamentV is expelled under a force such that it will penetrate the skin and lodge in underlying tissues. In many of these devices it has been necessary to' potentialize or cock the` apparatus manually against the tension of an accumulator which might be inthe form of a spring or of abodyoi? fluid under pressure'. Such pctcntializing has at best required` the expenditure ot considerable time and eiort. In the case of a relatively weak person, the achievement of this result has been diihcult. if. not impossible, especially1 if it was necessary to utilize' the apparatus a nrumber of times.

It is an object of the invention to furnish a structure as part of a h-ypodermic injection device and. by means of which a power cooking of the apparatus will be feasible. Accordingly, the difficulties heretofore encountered will be overcome and the apparatus will be ready for re-use withv the elapse of only a small interval of time after it has once been discharged.

A.` further object is that of providing a device oi this type and in which a structure may be included such that the operator will be able,

Without substantial eiforlt, to reset the device l prior to the cooking operation. Therefore, it Will not be necessary to even perform this, operation manually.

An additional object is that of providing a hypodermic injection device by means of which the foregoing results are achieved, and which apparatus would embody relatively few parts each individually simple and rugged in construction; such parts being. capable of ready assemblage and operating over long periods of time with freedom from all difliculties.

With these and other objects in mind reference is had to the attached sheets of drawings illustrating practical embodiments of the invention and in which:

Fig. l is a sectional side view of one form of apparatus and illustrating the parts in an initial position;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View of certain of the the parts in a; differentv position Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. l but showingan alternative form of apparatus; and

Fig. 4' is a transverse sectional view taken along the linesl 4-4 and in the direction of the arrowsk as indicated in Fig. 3.

Referring primarily to Figs. l and 2 the numeral '5 indicates the body of the device from which a handle 6 may extend. The rear end of body 5 may be closed as` at 1. Its forward end provides a medicament chamber and an ejection orifice therefor. Conveniently, as-illustrated, this chamber may be embodied in a plug 8 connected to body 5 by screw threads and which plug in turnsupports a cap 9. The latter is formed with an opening through which a nozzle I- may project. The discharge-end II of this nozzle may be dened by an orifice of, for example, .002 to .0&8. The plug; 8 is conveniently lined with'` resilient or backing material |21. A medicamentccntain-ing ampule which may be in the form of a' rubber sack I3 is disposed in contact with this lining and mounts nozzle IIJ. The capacity of the ampule should be such asY to provide the desired body of medicament :to be injected. Again, for' example, it may be'` l cc.

Cooperating with. the base of the ampule` to effect injection of medicament through the oriiice I'I is' aplunger I4. This plunger is carried by the forward end of` a tube I5 slidably mounted-` within' body 5'. Tube I5 may be formed with an axially extending groove I6 within which the end of a guiding pin I'I carried by body 5- may ride to Aprevent rotation of the tube. The rear end of the tube mounts a sleeve I8. This sleeve is conveniently formed with threads which adjustably support a retaining member in the form of a ring I9 having an angular forward face. Engaging this face when the parts areY in the positionsv shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is a trigger mechanism. This may include a rearwardly extending pawl 2lit pivoted as at 2 I' and provided with a projection 22. A trigger which is manually shiftable may' be providedr by a pivotaily supported lever 2'3" having' an armf cooperable with projection 22; a spring 2li being arranged to act against this lever and the' p'awl 2li; A shaft 25 acting as a safety is disposed' adjacent lever23. This shaft, together with the parts just described, is mounted by an' extension 2t' which may form a part of body 5.

The ejection of medicament at the desired velocities requires the use of considerable force. Therefore, an accumulator structure is preferably employed. This structure' in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 has been shown asincluding a pair" ofsprings 21. As is apparent accumulators embodying other forms of power might be utilised in lieu of these springs. If springs are employed, then they may be pre-tensioned to around 200 pounds when disposed with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. l. When tensioned to their fully compressed state, as in Fig. 2, they may react with a force of around 290 pounds. To thus compress them sleeve |8 may slidably mount a cooking plunger 28 which has its inner end operatively bearing against the assembly of the accumulator. When this plunger is shifted from the position shown in Fig. l to that illustrated in Fig. 2, then the accumulator will be fully potentialized.

The foregoing structure is illustrative of my present invention. It represents one form of injection apparatus as 4heretofore developed and employing an accumulator structure suitable for achieving the desired injections. With the exception of the combination involved and certain i the form of a flange 29. The extreme rear portion of the plunger may terminate in a rounded surface such as 3G. Cooperating with that surface is a rod or member 3| which has its forward face inclined as at 32 to provide a cam surface cooperable with surface 3D. Rod 3| terminates in or is connected to a piston 33 which slidably moves in a cylinder 34 forming .a part of the handle 6. A spring 35 normally maintains rod 3| and piston 33 in the position shown in Fig. l. As will be apparent when these parts are projected against the action of spring 35 cam surface 32 will ride against surface 30 to thus project plunger 28 to the position shown in Fig. 2.

To maintain the plunger 28 in that position a retaining unit conveniently in the form of a spring pressed pivoted catch 36 is employed. The

mounting of this catch may be upon body 5 and an actuator 3l conveniently extends from the catch beyond the surface of that body so that this part may be shifted. With plunger 28 projected to the position shown in Fig. 2 it will be apparent that the forward or inner end of that member bearing against the structures of the accumulator .vill have compressed or potentialized that accumulator to a maximum extent. In the embodiment illustrated this will partake of a full compression of the springs 21. Under these circumstances and as also shown in Fig. 2, the pawl 20 bears against the forward face of ring I9 to thus prevent a release of the parts.

Now with a view to providing a structure by means of which plunger 3| may be power projected, a flask 38 of compressed gas is employed. This may be in the form of a more or less conventional CO2 cartridge. The outer end of h-andle 6 presents chamber for the accommodation of this fla-sk and mounts a tightening and closing cap 39. As the latter is brought to fully seated position it will force flask 33 inwardly against the pointed cannula 4G to thus perforate the seal of the flask. A passage 4| is also formed in the handle so that gas under pressure may be conducted to the cylinder 34 to thus effect a projection of piston 33 and the plunger 3| extending therefrom.

In order to control the flow of gas a valve 42 may be interposed within passage 4|. This valve, as shown, is normally maintained in seated position bythe pressure of the gas as well as by means of spring 43. A stem 44 extends from the body of the valve to a point beyond the surface of handle 6. An actuating lever for this stem has been indicated at 45 and is pivotally supported as at 46. It may normally be urged to a position at which the valve is closed by spring 41 which will supplement the action of spring 43. A vent 48 of extremely reduced diameter may extend from the cylinder 34. As shown, and if desired, lever 45 may be continued beyond pivot 46 as at 49 and under certain conditions be cooperative with an extension 5| projecting from tube l5 through a slot 52 in body 5.

As will be understood an operator desiring to effect a cooking of the accumulator and with the parts positioned as shown in Fig. l may simply rock lever 45 around its pivot against the action of spring 41. Under these circumstances compressed air or gas will flow through passage 4| into cylinder 34. It will serve to project rod 3| and cause the surface 32 of the same to cooperate with surface 30 of plunger 28. This will cause the latter to be shifted from the position shown in Fig. l to that illustrated in Fig. 2. When so shifted the latch 36 will retain plunger 28 projected which-as afore brought out-will potentialize the accumulator. Upon the release of lever 45 valve 42 will reseat to interrupt further flow of the compressed gas or air. Under these circumstances spring 35 will return the rod and piston to the position shown in Fig. 1. This will be because the fluid and the pressure will escape through vent 48. As afore brought out the diameter of this vent is relatively small. Accordingly the amount of air or gas escaping through the same when the valve is open will be inappreciable. However. a slow escape may occur so that the piston and rod will be returned to their normal positions in a few seconds.

In lieu of this valve arrangement other structures may in certain instances preferably be employed. For example, as shown in my prior application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 5,549, filed January 3l, 1948 for Injection Device, a valve assembly which is suitable for the present purpose may be employed. As will also be understood the surfaces which provide for the shift of motion of rod 3| with respect to plunger 28 might be replaced by any suitable transmitting mechanism; the present cam surfaces having been illustrated for the sake of simplicity of showing. Additionally the power mechanism as embracing the cartridge 38, valve assembly, piston, etc. need not necessarily be contained in a handle portion 5 extending perpendicular to the axis of body 5. This is merely one convenient manner of providing for the complete assembly.

Now with the parts disposed as described it will be understood that an operator might conveniently bring the end of nozzle |13 to a point adjacent the area to be injected. Thereupon by shifting lever after releasing the safety shaft the pewl 29 rock upwardly. Under these circumstances the entire tube i5 will shift to the right as viewed in l. This will be because rear-yard shift of plunger 28 is prevented by latch With such movement of tube |5 plunger ill will be proiected with considerable force to expel the medicament within ampule I3 at high velocity and in the form of a fine stream from orice Therefore, the epidermis will be acne-,co2

penetrated byv the medicament; the discharge continuing until allthe medicament within theampule has been exhausted, As shown in Fig. 2 and indicated in dotted lines, extension 5i will be adjacent the upper arm 49 of the lever 45- under these circumstances. An operator desiring to effect a reloading of the apparatus may readily do so by swinging that lever in a counterclockwise direction as viewedin Figs. l and 2 so as to engage extension 5|' and retract the same together with tube I5 and its associated parts. Prior to this shifting latch 3B may be rocked to inoperativeposition by grasping the manipulating portion 31 and raising the same which will clear the latch from the ange 29. With such rearward shifting ofthe parts plunger I4 will be withdrawn from the medicament-contained compartment. Pawl 29 will ride over the surfaces of the elements as theyy are shifted rearwardly andl will iinally reach a position at which it braces against the ioreward face of ring i9. The loading cap 9 mayv now be removed and a fresh ampule placed in the medicament chamber after which the loading cap may be reapplied. The device is now ready for potentialiting or cooking as previously described.

In Figs. 3 and 4 an apparatus has been shown which corresponds generally to that heretofore described in connection with Figs. l and 2. Therefore, the sameV reference numerals have been largely employed toy designate corresponding parts, However, in this form of apparatus the passage 5.2 leadingV from the compressed air or gas fiask has interposed' in it valve 53. For the sake of simplicity of illustration this valve has been shown as embracing a rotatably mounted body formed with a channel A crank arm extends from the valve body and is link connected as at 55 with a pivotally mounted spring pressed handle 5i. According to the position of this valve body fluid' under pressure may ow through either channel 58 or 59. A spring pressed valve El) corresponding to valve 42 is interposed in channel 5e, which iscontinued through to the cylinder 3d. Channel 59' may conveniently extend to point adjacent the forward end of body 5 which in this embodiment is in the form of a cylinder 60. The tube. l5. functions as a piston. Therefore,l when iiuid under pressure is admitted in the forward end or" the body, tube i5 will be power retracted, together with all parts associated with 'the same.

In common. with the structurev shown at 48 in Fig. l, a spring pressed valve tis provided with.

an. actuating stem lili. Also a vent. l may be furnished through the wally of the body to prevent entrapped fluid from preventing proper movement of the parts. The diameter of the vent in Fig. 3- should be materially reduced so that a power retraction of the tube as afore described will not. be prevented becausey of too rapid escape of. the pressure iiuid. Again in this form o apparatus it is in many respects preferred to employ a valve mechanism as disclosed inmy aforementioned earlier application. An obvious modiiicationand extension of that valve mechanism may beresorted to'in` order to assure proper flowing of the gas under pressure from within the forward end ofbody f.

In operating a device of the type shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the same sequence of procedure may be resorted to in order to achieve a cooking of the apparatus and a firing of the same. In this connection it will be understood that an operator may simply swing handle 51 in a counterclockwise direction so that the valve 531permits a ilow of' fluid under pressure through branch 59 into the cylinder furnished adjacent the forward end of body 5. Under these circumstances the tube i5 and its associatedparts willi be retracted' from the position shown in dot andv dash lines in Fig. 3 to that shown in full lines in that figure. A fresh ampule may be placed in position. Thereupon a shifting of the lever or handle- 5I? in a clockwise direction will cause link 56' to rotate valve 53I so that the latter aiords communication between passage 52 and branch 58. This will cock the device.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specifically afore noted' are achieved. Obviously numerous changes in construction and rearrangement of' the parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as denedf by the claims.

I cla-im:

1. In a device for injecting liquid medicament, in combination, a hollow body providing a medicament chamber adjacent one of its ends, a pressure accumulator movably mounted within said body, means providing a surface extending from said accumulator and proj ectable therewith to move into said chamber a-nd expel medicament therefrom, manually releasable latch means carried by said body andv connectable with said accumulator for maintaining the same in retracted position, means movably connected with said accumulator and projectable with respect thereto to increase the pressure therein while said accumulator is maintained in such position,

0 power means for operating said pressure increasing means and manually operated means for controlling said power means.

2. In a device for injecting liquid medicament, in combination, a hollow body providing a medica-mentv chamber adjacent one of its ends, aA pressure accumulator movably mounted within said body, means providing a surface extending from said accumulator and projectable therewith to move into said chamber and expel meicament therefrom, manually releasable latch means carried by said body and connectable with saidv accumulator for maintaining thesame in retractedV positiommeans movably connected with saidl accumulator andv projectable with respect thereto to increase the pressure therein while said accumulator is maintained in such position, further latching means for retaining the pres-- sure increasing means inY projected position, power means for operating said pressure increasing means andv manually operated means for controlling said' power means'.

3. InI a device for injecting liquid medicament, in combination, a hollow body providing a medicament chamber adjacent one of its ends, a pressure accumulatorv movably mounted within said body, means providing a surfaceA extendingl from said accumulatorl andl projectable therewith to move into said chamber' and expelA medicarnent` therefrom, manually releasable latch' means carried by said body and connectable with said accumulator for maintaining the same in retracted position, means movably connected with saidV accumulator and projectable with respect thereto to increase the pressure therein while.-

said accumulator is maintained in such position, further latching means for retaining the pressure increasing means in projected position, releasing means for said further latching means accessible from the exterior of said body, power means for operating said pressure increasing means and for controlling said power means.

4. In a device for injecting liquid medicament, in combination, a hollow body providing a medicament chamber adjacent one of its ends, a pressure accumulator movably mounted within said body, means providing a surface extending from said accumulator and projectable therewith to move into said chamber and expel medicament therefrom, manually releasable latch means carried by said body and connectable with said accumulator for maintaining the same in retracted position, a plunger extending from within said accumulator to a point beyond the exterior of the same and movable with respect to said accumulator, said plunger upon being projected with respect to said accumulator increasing the pressure therein while such accumulator is maintained in retracted position and power means acting against said plunger for projecting it with respect to said accumulator.

5. In a device for injecting liquid medicament, in combination, a hollow body providing a medicament chamber adjacent one of its ends, a pressure accumulator movably mounted within said body, means providing a surface extending from said accumulator and projectable therewith to move into said chamber and expel medicament therefrom, manually releasable latch means carried by said body and connectable with said accumulator for maintaining the same in retracted position, a plunger extending from within said accumulator to a point beyond the exterior of the same and movable with respect to said accumulator, said plunger upon being projected with respect to said accumulator increasing the pressure therein while such accumulator is maintained in retracted position, power means acting against said plunger for projecting it with respect to said accumulator, said plunger being formed with a detent surface and a further latch movably carried by said body and cooperating with said detent surface.

6. In a device for injecting liquid medicament,

in combination, a hollow body providing a medicament chamber adjacent one of its ends, a pressure accumulator movably mounted within said body, means providing a surface extending from said accumulator and proj ectable therewith to move into said chamber and expel medicament therefrom, manually releasable latch means carried by said body and connectable with said accumulator for maintaining the same in retracted position, a plunger extending from within said accumulator to a point beyond the exterior of the same and movable with respect to said accumulator, said plunger upon being projected with respect to said accumulator increasing the pres-sure t erein while such accumulator is maintained in retracted position, power means acting against said plunger for projecting it with respect to said accumulator, a power projected rod carried by said body and means operatively coupling said rod to project said plunger upon said rod being projected.

7. In a device for injecting liquid medicament, in combination, a hollow body providing a medicament chamber adjacent one of its ends, a pressure accumulator movably mounted within said body, means providing a surface extending from said accumulator and projectable therewith to move into said chamber and expel medicament therefrom, manually releasable latch means carried by said body and conneotable with said accumulator for maintaining the same in retracted position, a plunger extending from within said accumulator to a point beyond the exterior of the same and movable with respect to said accumulator, said plunger upon being projected with respect to said accumulator increasing the pressure therein while such accumulator is maintained in retracted position, power means acting against said plunger for projecting it with respect to said accumulator, a power projected rod carried by said body, said body being formed with a cylinder, a projectable piston and rod lying within and extending from said cylinder, means for operatively coupling said rod with said plunger to project the latter upon the former being projected and control means governing the projection of such piston.

3. In a device for injecting liquid medicament, in combination, a hollow body providing a medicament chamber adjacent one of itsl ends, a pressure accumulator movably mounted within said body, means providing a surface extending from said accumulator and projectable therewith to move into said chamber and expel medicament therefrom, manually releasable latch means carried by said body and connectable with said accumulator for maintaining the same in retracted position, means movably connected with said accumulator and projectable with respect thereto to increase the pressure therein while said accumulator is maintained in such position, power means for operating said pressure increasing means, further power means for retracting said pressure accumulator and manually operated means for controlling said power means.

9. In a device for injecting liquid medicament, in combination, a hollow body providing a medicament chamber adjacent one of its ends, a pressure accumulator movably mounted within said body, means providing a surface extending from said accumulator and proj ectable therewith to move into said chamber and expel medicament therefrom, manually releasable latch means carried by said body and connectable with said accumulator for maintaining the same in retracted position, means movably connected with said accumulator and projectable with respect thereto to increase the pressure therein while said accumulator is maintained in such position, power means for operating said pressure increasing means, said body providing a cylinder, said pressure accumulator providing a piston movable within said cylinder and means associated with said body for conducting iiuid into said cylinder to forcibly retract said pressure accumulator.

JOHN H. SldOOT.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,322,245 Lockhart June 22, 1943 2,380,534 Lockhart July 3l, 1945 2,413,303 Folkman Dec. 3l, 1946 2,459,875 Folkman Jan. 25, 1949 2,547,099 Smoot Apr. 3, 1951 

